**Thank you guys for reading! I'm sorry I didn't post earlier, I've been dealing with life and such. I'm not much of a writer but this has been the best way to deal with all my feelings about the end of Wicked King and how it'll be a year before Queen of Nothing. A year, you guys. I hope these mini chapters give you some sort of hope for Jude and Cardan because I'm honestly worried for how it will turn out.**

A knock on my door has me pushing Cardan away, though his taunting smile tells me how amused he is. My face is burning as I straighten my clothes.

"You need to leave," I say, refusing to meet his eyes, too afraid I won't be able to keep my hands off of his just yet. I can almost hear his smile widening as he makes a show of bowing.

"As you wish, my Queen," He opens the door, revealing Taryn standing on the other side hand poised to knock again. Her eyes widen as she takes in Cardan's disheveled appearance and then to my lack of proper clothing. Cardan glances over his shoulder at me, an eyebrow cocked before disappearing down the hallway. Taryn's eyes are wide as saucers as we size each other up. She looks different than I remember, which is disorienting considering we're twins. She was always softer than I was, a delicate flower where I was the weed, continuing to exist even after I'd overstayed my welcome in this garden. My heart hurts staring at my sister now.

"Jude," she speaks and her voice is filled with emotion; the tears already forming in her eyes. My jaw clenches as I bite down the urge to tell her it's okay and to forgive her just so she won't cry. Even after all she's done the instinct to protect her hasn't left. I stay silent a moment longer to compose myself before stepping aside and letting her in. I lean against the wall Cardan and I had just moments before been pressed against as Taryn settles onto the dusty couch. When she finally stops fidgeting with her dress she looks up at me warily. She must think I'll yell at her, that I will challenge her to another duel because of how she's betrayed me because she stays silent even as the seconds tick on. I quirk an eyebrow at her, waiting for her patience to break.

It doesn't take long.

"Jude, please I didn't mean for you to be exiled, how could I?" Her voice is whining, and I realize she expects me to just forgive her like I always have.

"You pretended to be me to help the man who killed our parents." My voice is low, calm and icy and she flinches as if she'd been hit. "It doesn't matter what you meant to do," her mouth opens and closes but she stays silent. She looks to her hands in her lap and I notice how different they are from my own. While hers are smooth and delicate my own have calluses from years of swordplay and the scar from when I'd stabbed my own hand. I don't know why it makes me feel better that at least some part of me is not the mirror image of her.

"Madoc asked me to do that," she whispers finally.

"You didn't have to do it," I snap.

"Jude-" I stop her

"I am the Queen." I say flatly "And you will address me as such. I don't want you coming here again. If I have need of you, I'll find you. Though I can't think of a single reason I could ever need you, Taryn. You're dismissed," I speak her name like poison on my tongue. I push myself away from the wall, away from my sister, who is now just a stranger that shares my face. I don't watch as her tears continue to spill down her cheeks. I don't watch as she stands and quickly leaves the room. I was always Taryn's savior, her protector. There was a time that I believed she cared for me as much as I cared for her. But that was before. I know better than to think my sister would ever choose me over the favor of the Fae.

Even if I would have chosen her.